Hrs a week worked

Loganwayne

Loganwayne

#BTL
Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Location
Clyde, North Carolina
So I'm gonna the great wealth of wisdom on nc4x4. I'm graduating in may again. I've got one job offer, and am expecting another from the company I am currently doing an Internship for. The two companies are kinda on opposite ends of the spectrum. One ( job A) is 60-65 hrs a week on jobsites all within 2 hours of my house. Basically go as fast and as hard as you can go from the time you get to work till you leave. (Job B) I'm in an office one exit from my house. Pretty laid back if I need to go to town and do something no one asks questions just as long as my work load is done on time. Working 45-50 hrs a week, possibly more if problems arise or get way behind but not often.

Both jobs are salary with equal benefits. Job A is a higher salary job, lower position. Job B is lower salary, and I'd be at the highest position I will be at for probably 5-10 years or until I change jobs.

What hrs are you guys working? If you were put in a similar situation which would you choose

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Assuming $ is ok at either, go where you will learn and develop more skills and increase your marketability.

Also remember, 60-65 hours a week gets to you eventually. I typically hit 55-75 hours each week and it can be overwhelming at times, especially with travel on top of that.

If you have a family, consider that as well


Something I've lived by most of my life... work hard now so I don't have to later. Basically, work your ass off to get ahead and make some $ to live and put away so hopefully I'm not working till noon on the day of my funeral at age 80. It's worked out so far as I'll likely be able retire by 55.

Figuring out what you want later starts now
 
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I think for your life outside of work job B will suit better and enjoy more R&R. If you are hung up on getting promoted and raises every now and then go with job A. I've been in the job A situation before making good money and chasing even more money and a higher title. I am in a job B situation now and happier than I've ever been and more time for family and getting out on the trails. Just my.02.
 
The one that will give the most practical experience, knowledge and training. Since your just starting out, the more you learn and experience the better. A solid foundation weathers a storm much better than a weak one.

I'm a journeyman commercial refrigeration tech. My hours can be all over the place. From 40-55 to 65+ and being on-call.

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What @Infamous said. I was offered another area at work about a month ago, honestly I feel like I work for myself half the time now. Made good money where I was and hope to now. Getting up at 4am to go get 700 gallons a diesel drive another hour and then work past dark everyday that shit was getting old. I'm working about 15 mins from home now, can run errands check on the house, and the stress level is a lot lower.
 
obullfish said:
I think for your life outside of work job B will suit better and enjoy more R&R. If you are hung up on getting promoted and raises every now and then go with job A. I've been in the job A situation before making good money and chasing even more money and a higher title. I am in a job B situation now and happier than I've ever been and more time for family and getting out on the trails. Just my.02.
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I just want to have enough money to enjoy the things I like to do. I would like to be able to buy a house outside of town with some property but I realize that is a long term goal.

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rockcity said:
Assuming $ is ok at either, go where you will learn and develop more skills and increase your marketability.

Also remember, 60-65 hours a week gets to you eventually. I typically hit 55-75 hours each week and it can be overwhelming at times, especially with travel on top of that.

If you have a family, consider that as well
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Kodiakco said:
The one that will give the most practical experience, knowledge and training. Since your just starting out, the more you learn and experience the better. A solid foundation weathers a storm much better than a weak one.

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Job A i would say would have more marketability as a former employer then Job B although both are respected companies in the area.

Job A focuses on large commercial jobs, hospitals schools probably 15 million +


Job B is high end homes and light commercial car dealerships, banks alot of smaller municipality structures. Most stuff is less than 10 million.

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rockcity said:
Assuming $ is ok at either, go where you will learn and develop more skills and increase your marketability.

Also remember, 60-65 hours a week gets to you eventually. I typically hit 55-75 hours each week and it can be overwhelming at times, especially with travel on top of that.

If you have a family, consider that as well


Something I've lived by most of my life... work hard now so I don't have to later. Basically, work your ass off to get ahead and make some $ to live and put away so hopefully I'm not working till noon on the day of my funeral at age 80. It's worked out so far as I'll likely be able retire by 55.

Figuring out what you want later starts now
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Saved. So i can like this post again.
 
Another thing to consider are the other employees. Are they they type of people you want to learn from and look up to? Are they willing to mentor you? Will they share their knowledge with you? Do you and they have similar thought processes? There's nothing worse than a divisive work place.

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Job B sounds like the ticket. I work to live not live to work. The first job out of school isn't permanent. My first job only lasted one year good riddance. I moved on and found something better and and got a large salary raise.

Edit: and I work 80 hours/2 weeks. Having the flex hours is beautiful so I can flex that 80 hours over two work weeks.
 
Here's my take.
All the $$$ in the world isn't worth watching your rig rust away from sitting or listening to your SO complain you work too much.
On the other hand, you didn't get your degree NOT to strive for something more. This is the time to invest in your future as you'll never have less holding you back than now.

I'm with @rockcity, I work harder than an ugly stripper and probably 60 hours most weeks. I do now so I won't have to as long later.
It works for me and my wife but it may not for others.
 
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Loganwayne said:
Job A i would say would have more marketability as a former employer then Job B although both are respected companies in the area.
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Job A. Suck it up for a few years get the experience, you are young enough to do it.

I wouldn't want to go ahead and have one of my first job have no room for growth and less pay/not as well looked at job in the marketplace. That said, I would want the pay to be worth equal to the additional hours I would be working.
 
Loganwayne said:
Job A i would say would have more marketability as a former employer then Job B although both are respected companies in the area.

Job A focuses on large commercial jobs, hospitals schools probably 15 million +


Job B is high end homes and light commercial car dealerships, banks alot of smaller municipality structures. Most stuff is less than 10 million.

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Industrial, health, instutional, and heavy commercial are less affected by recession than residential and small commercial.

That job, while it's more work and hours, is more likely to be more secure.
 
DSM Turbos said:
Job A. Suck it up for a few years get the experience, you are young enough to do it.

I wouldn't want to go ahead and have one of my first job have no room for growth and less pay/not as well looked at job in the marketplace. That said, I would want the pay to be worth equal to the additional hours I would be working.
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I see your point. And I know this is gonna seem crazy but if I was to go with job B when I quit/left it, it would be to work for myself. BUT that is totally dependent on how the economy goes in the next 5 or so years. If you take that into consideration job B would offer more experience towards going on my own. Job A would basically provide the means faster but wouldn't build my personal reputation with subs that I would end up using if I went out on my own

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Job a suck it up I worked 3 jobs all my life until 2 years ago 40 at lowes 35 at bartender and 30 yards a week mowing. Now I make enough to work one job and one yard $400 a month.
 
Loganwayne said:
I see your point. And I know this is gonna seem crazy but if I was to go with job B when I quit/left it, it would be to work for myself. BUT that is totally dependent on how the economy goes in the next 5 or so years. If you take that into consideration job B would offer more experience towards going on my own. Job A would basically provide the means faster but wouldn't build my personal reputation with subs that I would end up using if I went out on my own

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Well you left out those important details fool! If that is your ultimate end goal then it would be worth it to take B to build what you want out of your career.

I'm different, I never want to own my own business. I make a fine living working for companies and not having to worry about some of the stuff from owning your own business.
 
DSM Turbos said:
Well you left out those important details fool! If that is your ultimate end goal then it would be worth it to take B to build what you want out of your career.

I'm different, I never want to own my own business. I make a fine living working for companies and not having to worry about some of the stuff from owning your own business.
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I grew up with my dad running his own successful construction business. If the economy wouldn't have turned bad I would have never went to college period. I probably would have still taken over my dad business after school up till a few years ago when his quality of work started slipping and he started ruining his own name and business. (Literally had six out of town jobs lined up for him and he told me to screw off)
Personally I would rather work 80 hrs for myself then 50 for someone else.
The satisfaction is a completely different feeling for me when it was something I set up, sold and finished for myself than for my company.



BUT GOING ON MY OWN IS COMPLETELY DEPENDANT ON ECONOMY

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rockcity said:
Industrial, health, instutional, and heavy commercial are less affected by recession than residential and small commercial.

That job, while it's more work and hours, is more likely to be more secure.
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Ya I know that and that's something I'm taking into consideration. I mean honestly everyone below a PM/some superintendents I feel most companies see as expendable. Screw up to bad your gone.

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Puts my story hat on...graduated college thinking I wanted to become worlds greatest CEO...and 5-6 years in was on a promising path to accomplish that goal. Took on every job that needed to be done to gain experience, and the corresponding responsibility/promotions. Made more money than I knew what to do with as a 26-27 year old kid. Worked 100 hours a week, traveled 300 days/yr, managed $700million in businesses in 8 different countries. Thought I had it made, until I didn't. Woke up one morning, completely burned out, every morning hoped someone would veer into me in traffic (nothing too bad, just enough not to have to go in to work). Realized that wasn't healthy and quit. Found a job out at the beach (how do you beat the beach, right) managing a single $800million plant. Dropped me to about 75 hours a week...but still wasn't happy. After a year, ended up quitting that job too. Took a two month hiatus to do some soul searching and realized the last time I was actually happy was at a facility about 25% the size working 50-60 hours with a short commute (because that time counts for something too), with minimal travel.

Now I say all that to say, money is nice, and you have to be ambitious, but you never get that time back. It's good to get the experience on your resume, but you will find your breaking point and have to find your balance...it's different for everyone. Now I work 50ish hours, have a lot more time to dedicate to two side businesses, wrench, spend time with the wife and sit around and drink all day if I wanted to. My pay check is about half the money of where I was 3 years ago, but I'm happier, less stressed and still putting food on the table.

So my advice is...take every opportunity you can, to put you on the path you want to be on, until you can't/don't want to any more/change paths.
 
I usually work around 50 a week and am hourly. I find my job not near enough of a challenge and would like more. Problem is, I have a crazy flexible gig with pretty good money and don't want that to change. I would have to choose B, especially if you want to go out on your own.
 
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